Bottle crate



Aug. 14, 1934. J. F. MAURER, JR

BOTTLE CRATE Filed May 1'7, 1933 lNvENTOR OL ff/Ydzarer J5:

www ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITEDA STATES BOTTLE CRATE John F.Maurer, Jr., North Bergen, N. J;

Application May 17, 1933, Serial No. 671,478

5 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle crates or cases of the type that areusually used for milk bottles and the invention has todo with animproved means for bracing the bottom of the crate structure so that itwill more eiectually withstand the severe strains and stresses to whichit is subjected.

Primarily the invention comprehends a brace strap, preferablyconstructed of sheet metal, which is constructed in such a manner as toaiord abutments which engage with the opposite sides of the usuallongitudinally extending bottom bars so as to maintain the same in theirnormal position and to resist side strains and thrusts imparted thereto,in addition to so tying the bottom of the crate structure together as tomaterially strengthen the same.

As a further object the invention includes, in combination with a bracestrap of the indicated character, a reenforcing cleat anchored to theinner faces of the crate sides adjacent the lower edges thereof and withwhich cleats, abutments on said strap engage so as to assist the cleatsin strengthening the bottom portions'o the sides to withstand the impactof the shocks and jars especially when hand trucks are thrustthereagainst in handling the crates.

The invention also resides in the provision of upturned extremities atYthe opposite ends of the brace strap which straddle the sides of thecrate and through which extremities, the'bottom bars and the cratesides, tie rods extend to effectively lock the bottom structure morermly together.

The invention furthermore contemplates the use of means extendingthrough the brace strap and anchored in the bottom bars for securing thestrap against the under surfaces of said bars so that the strapabutments are maintained in engagement with the opposite sides of saidbottom bars.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bottom bracing meanswhich is not complicated in its construction and which may beinexpensively incorporated in the crate structure and which is highlyeflicient for its intended purpose.

With these and other objects in view reference is made to the followingspecication and the accompanying drawing in which there are set forthseveral preferred embodiments of the invention while the claims setforth the actual scope thereof.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View through a cratestructure made up rin accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on a larger scaletaken approximately on the line indicated at 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of one end of the bracestrap.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view illustrating aslightly modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference A'designates thesides of the crate, B the bottom bars, which are transversely spacedwith reference to each other and the crate sides and which extendlongitudinally of the crate.

The bottom bracing means constituting the present invention includes abrace member which is preferably in the form of a sheet metal strap 5which is of a length to extend completely across and to underlie thebottom of the crate and which is provided with upturned extremities 6 atits Opposite ends, which extremities are apertured as at 7 to receivetherethrough a combined tie `rod and partition element 8 which extendsthrough the crate sides and the bottom bars B, the tie rod having upsetends or heads 9 thus more firmly locking together the` bottom structure.The body portion of the strapor member 5 is provided with abutments l0which engageV with the opposite sides of the bottom bars B so as tomaintain the same in their normal position and resist side strains andthrusts iinparted thereto while tying the bottom of the crate structuretogether to brace and counter brace the same. The'bracel strap or member5 is provided with additional abutments 1l adjacent to and spaced fromthe terminals 6 for either directly or indirectly engaging the cratesides A.

In the form of the invention illustrated the bracing means includes incombination with the brace member or strap 5, brace cleats 12 which aresecured to the inner faces of the sides A adjacent thel lower edgesthereof and with which the abutments 11 engage. l In order to maintainthe abutments 10 in relative position on opposite sides of the bottombars B, fastening means such as screws 13 or their equivalent extendthrough the strap or member 5 and are anchored in the bottom bars. The

abutments 10 and 11 may be variously formed but preferably they are madeintegral with the strap or member 5 and as shown in Figures l to 3inclusive are produced by slitting and bending up tongues from the bodyof said strap or member so that the end edges are disposed in contactwith the elements which they abut.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, the abutmenttongue has a terminal portion 16 extending upwardly at an angle toafford a wider bearing surface or area to engage or Contact with theelement which it abuts. In other respects the use or purpose as well asthe structure of the bracing means is identical with that set forth inconnection with the preferred form of the invention.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a crate bracing means has beendevised which althoughY of simple construction and capable of economicalincorporation in the crate structure, matrially adds to the length oflife' and .usefulness of the crate by strengthening `the same at thepoint where it is subjected to the greatest strains. While there hasbeen shown and described several preferred forms of the invention, it isto be understood that other variations which fall within the range ofthe claims may be. resorted to when desired.

What is claimedis:``

1. In abottlecrate which includes sides and transversely spaced,longitudinally extending cross sectionally rectangular bottom barshaving bottle receiving depressions opening through the upper Wall andopposite side walls thereof, means for bracing the bottom portion of thecrate struc- `ture-including reenforeing cleats attached to the innerfaces of the crate sides and a transverse brace strap secured at itsopposite ends to the crate sides and having abutment means engaging theinner side faces of the cleats and the opposite side faces of the bottombars adjacent the bottom faces thereof.

2. A transverse bottom brace for a bottle crate of the: type whichincludes longitudinally eX- tending cross sectionally rectangular bottombars having bottleV receiving depressions opening through the upper walland opposite side walls thereofspaced from each other and from thecratesides, said bottom brace being formed from a length of strapmaterial having upturned opposite terminals anchored to the crate sidesand a body portion having spaced pairs of upwardly offset. abutmentsdisposed substantially in planes vparallel to the plane of the strapbody with the free end edges of the abutments of each pair engagingopposite side faces of ther bottom bars.

the free end edges of the outermost abutments `4in engagement with theinner faces of the crate sides and with the free end edges of theremaining abutments engaging the opposite side faces of the bottom bars.

4. In a bottle crate having sides and longitudinally extending crosssectionally rectangular bottom bars having bottle receiving depressionsopening through the upper wall and opposite side walls thereof disposedin spaced parallel relation to eachother and to thev crate sides, meansfor bracing the bottom of the crate including cleats secured to theinner faces of the crate sides adjacent the lower edges thereof, atransverse brace 100 strap underlying and extending across the entirecrate, upturned terminals at the opposite ends of the brace strap, acombined partition and tie rod extending through the upturned terminals,the l Vcrate sides and the bottom bars, means anchoring -1105 the strapto the bottoml bars and upwardly offset abutments on the brace strapextending alternately in- 'opposite' directions and disposed in planessubstantially parallel to the plane of the strap with the free Vendedges thereof engaging Il() 'respectively with the inner side faces ofthe cleats and the opposite side faces of the bottom bars adjacent thebottom faces thereof.

5. A transverse bottom brace for a bottle crate of the type whichincludes longitudinally eXtending bottom bars having opposite side facesformed with bottle receiving depressions, said bottom brace being formedfrom a length of strap material having its opposite ends supported bythe crate sides and spaced offset abutments dis- A1520 posedsubstantially in a plane parallel to the plane of the strap-with thefree end edges of the abutments engaging opposite upright side faces ofsaid` bottom bars` beyond the connes of the bottle receivingdepressions.

' JOHN F. MAURER, JR.

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